Formula 1 Discussion - And favourite driver?

[A.P. Hill]

Piastri is choking, and we're about to get the worst champion in recent history. Besides the car, the blatant team favoritism, the orgasms from the Sky commentary that will ensue...MAN it's going to be insufferable.

 

[SargonF00t]

Piastri is choking, and we're about to get the worst champion in recent history. Besides the car, the blatant team favoritism, the orgasms from the Sky commentary that will ensue...MAN it's going to be insufferable.

In F1 it is fairly common for the best driver to not have a car good enough to be the WDC, so whilst Lando isn't as good as Max, I think people are being too hard on him.

I am not convinced that former WDC's like Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve, Niko Rosberg or Jenson Button were more talented/faster/better than Lando.

 

[Kyria the Great]

The biggest injustice in the sport is Hamilton getting more love than Fernando.

Not that Alonso should be hailed as the GOAT, but Hamilton reads as a fucking princess, meanwhile, Alonso reads as the guy who has seen some shit, done some shit, and will talk all the shit over some beers.

Maybe it's because people like divas better or that the sport leans way too much into rich people turf, so a pretty boy gets more love. Give me the working class hero that knows his shit any day of the week.

Alonso is someone who I think has the most cursed career of any champion driver given how his career has been mostly tractors and dreadful luck. His radio messages are hilarious and love the old bastard still has it. Poor Ferrari strategy costed him the 2010 driver's championship. It's going to be sad to miss someone whose been driving longer than many drivers have been alive.

 

[Not A Bunny]

Might have been smarter to keep Sainz for at least another year. At least Sainz managed to get a podium before Hamilton.

And that's another god damn problem I have. Sainz might not be a marquee driver, but give him a B-tier car and he's still hanging in there. Dude is reasonably good-natured and took being fired in stride.

I'm sure on paper, it seemed like a good deal: Hamilton, the much-hailed champ takes a spot on the most iconic team in the sport. Win-win, right? There was a reasonable assertion to be made that he was going to shake up the cursed nature of the Ferrari team. But the curse won out.

There's an adage going around that even the right person at the wrong time is still the wrong person. If this doesn't prove to Ferrari that maybe hiring well still isn't going to magically change team culture (Ollie should have taken the response from Ferrari after Mexico City as a threat), then give me $500k and a pile of stats over Christmas and I'll go to Fred's place and tell him how exactly we're going to whip the shit out of the grid in 2026. Because if this is the result they get with someone like Hamilton, then they can't possibly do any worse consulting a complete idiot like me.

(Step one: Ditch Hamilton. Hire Alonso. If you're not going to win, make your losses entertaining.)

Piastri is choking, and we're about to get the worst champion in recent history. Besides the car, the blatant team favoritism, the orgasms from the Sky commentary that will ensue...MAN it's going to be insufferable.

We're all rooting for Dark Piastri. I think someone at Papaya has put up some wards to make sure they won't need to hire an exorcist later, but we all sense that there's a streak in that kid that is just begging to get cracked open.

In F1 it is fairly common for the best driver to not have a car good enough to be the WDC, so whilst Lando isn't as good as Max, I think people are being too hard on him.

I don't even hate Lando. He's just kind of boring and is somewhat the victim of anti-hype (yes, I see the favoritism, but is he supposed to take a dive to spite it?). It's just a shame that for all the booing he gets he isn't more of a villain.

 

[quaawaa]

don't even hate Lando. He's just kind of boring and is somewhat the victim of anti-hype (yes, I see the favoritism, but is he supposed to take a dive to spite it?). It's just a shame that for all the booing he gets he isn't more of a villain.

Watch Quadrant on YouTube. You will hate him by the end of the first video.

 

[Not A Bunny]

Watch Quadrant on YouTube. You will hate him by the end of the first video.

If I don't hate the guy based on things at least adjacent to racing, or whatever parasocial shit F1 gets me to watch (the novelty bollocks they do in each town pre-race makes me cringe for all of them), I'm not doing homework in order to look for a reason.

 

[Mantis Toboggan M.D.]

In other news, Toto, after losing his pet niggers to the pastasexuals and securing his catamite a drive appears to be cashing out of F1; selling 5% to crowdstrike CEO George Kurtz, leaving him with 27% of the team. "Leadership remains unchanged"

https://www.ft.com/content/c808539a-c5ad-4e9b-ac25-3bf70196e611

Edit to not doublepost;

McL choosing to go after RBR cost cap, questioning whether the change was done for performance or reliability reasons (if for reliability then RBR is in the clear, otherwise it may reduce their cap). Verstappen did complain about engine vibrations before the swap so RBR night have some evidence pointing the right way but we'll see what the lawyers say.

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/mclaren-chasing-cost-cap-answers-over-max-verstappen-engine-switch/

Also, Audi's livery for 2026 was unveiled; I hope it's not final lol

 

[Vanilla Donut]

I’m just a (very) filthy casual but Piastri is a local/country hero so naturally I hope he manages to pull through somehow although sadly I doubt he will. I’ve no problem with Norris though and I’m glad McLaren let them hash it out on the track. I quite like watching Leclerc drive too. A Verstappen comeback would be pretty amazing, I find myself rooting for him sometimes. That’s some fiiine racing.

 

[GaryGray]

Watch Quadrant on YouTube. You will hate him by the end of the first video.

I hate this channel after reading the title of the first video. Listened to three second and couldn't close the window fast enough. Peak parasitic slop. Guess the next video must be Piastri on Top Chef?

Lando Norris is Hunted By Special Forces
Today we hired an elite special forces unit to hunt Lando Norris and his friend

 

[Coccxys]

Now we're getting towards the end of the season what's everyone's thoughts on the rookies for the year?

Reddit is in full Bearman ball washing mode (British driver so of course) and has seemingly turned overnight on Bortoleto after the Brazilian GP (fuck you FOM, it will always be the Brazilian Gap now matter how many agreements for a shit street track you make).

For me, generally they've all done great (well the ones that kept their jobs). In no particular order:

I've probably been most impressed with Hadjar out of all of them. He started very poorly but soon picked up the speed and has been impressive.

Kimi had the expected troubles given it felt too soon but has recovered that to impressive performances. Holding off a charging Max at Brazil definitely showed he's got what it takes even if Max's tyres were screaming by then.

Bearman has done well in a shitbox car. His last few results have been very impressive with very few mistakes. He suffers from the British driver ball washing though, he's not the greatest driver since Lewlew no matter how many times idiots tell me he is and will fall short of the insane image people keep trying to build up.

Bortoleto has had a great season in a shit car and felt like the one who hit the ground running the best. You don't outcompete the Hulk in equal machinery if you're as shit as reddit seems to think. Plus seems the one out of all the rookies who'd be best to get a beer with.

Doohan, well he was fucked from the start and made it very easy for them to justify the swap. Colapinto hasn't really done much better and has kept his destruction derby tendencies, but also has a fat stack of sponsor money so got renewed.

Technically it was Lawson's first full season too so kinda counts. He drowned in that red bull but so does everyone so can't really hold that against him. He has definitely been a lot more anonymous than Hadjar this season and realistically there is nowhere for him to go in the red bull program so expect him to be going at some point, either to another team or Formula E (thoughts and prayers).

 

[Balr0g]

I think the Rookies showed that at least they belong into F1. You had the mixture of great performances and abysmal failure / bad luck. I feel pity for Doohan as he wasn't that far of from Gasly and Colapinto isn't showing much more in comparism. Of course the Alpine IS a shitbox but you can still shine (like Gasly did in Brazil). But as he is Argentinian which seems to be a huge market so he stays for now (maybe one day F1 will return to Buenos Aires). In Lawson's case he was definetly promoted too quickly and he seems to have found his footing again even though Hadjar often gets the "shinier" results (including a rare non Top 4 podium). Bearman is doing good all things considered, bringing the car home regularly and now outscoring Ocon. And lastly, Antonelli can claim one record (dubious as it is): the most points of any F1 rookie of all times. Just odd how he found his footing now that we have left Europe behind (yes I have seen the tinfoil theory about that)

 

[Not A Bunny]

I only started following a couple of months ago, so here's where I'm at with this:

I've probably been most impressed with Hadjar out of all of them. He started very poorly but soon picked up the speed and has been impressive.

No impression, because he hasn't been talked much about in the time I'm following but I'm not going to lean either way.

Kimi had the expected troubles given it felt too soon but has recovered that to impressive performances. Holding off a charging Max at Brazil definitely showed he's got what it takes even if Max's tyres were screaming by then.

Kimi is my pick based on what I've seen so far. Maybe it's the shine from being on one of the top teams. Maybe it's recency bias. But if I'm going to throw in on a rookie, Kimi's my guy.

Bearman has done well in a shitbox car. His last few results have been very impressive with very few mistakes. He suffers from the British driver ball washing though, he's not the greatest driver since Lewlew no matter how many times idiots tell me he is and will fall short of the insane image people keep trying to build up.

Agreed he's done well, and I think that's probably going to hurt him later. He picked up a single P4 in a Haas in a "battle" with Verstappen, that, let's face it wasn't much of a battle given that Max had the time to overtake. Yes, he's not doing badly, but one P4 and suddenly Ferrari is looking at him (but in light of recent jabs at their current drivers, I wouldn't take much stock in what Ferrari wants)? Give the kid some time, he's got potential.

Bortoleto has had a great season in a shit car and felt like the one who hit the ground running the best. You don't outcompete the Hulk in equal machinery if you're as shit as reddit seems to think. Plus seems the one out of all the rookies who'd be best to get a beer with.

I think he gets a bad rap because of the team he's on. Give the kid time and space, and probably some coaching from Hulk, and he'll probably do well in 2026.

 

[Mantis Toboggan M.D.]

Most of them have been great, with a couple of more mid exceptions (Colapinto and Lawson, who after being shattered by the cursed seat seems to be finding his footing). The real question for me is which one is in an environment that will allow them to flourish.

-I'm most concerned about Bearman; British ball washing+ a bad teammate (Ocon probably won't be of help) + the pressure to perform to join the screwderia doesn't make for a good combo.

-Antonelli is in a team that loves him but George will be eager to protect his seat, so maybe that will cause him some issues.

-Hadjar looks mighty promising, but RBR isn't really a choice for 2026 (and onwards if Max stays) so we'll see what happens. It's telling that Toro Rosso are doing better that RBR, Horner's pressure to perform probably did wonders for the team.

-Lawson is improving rapidly plus he's not in danger of a promotion so he'll have another season to prove his worth

-Bortoleto is the hidden gem; good first season with a tractor, outscoring a good driver that wasn't insecure about his seat so he could mentor him, plus a friendship with the goat, meaning another source of info and experience. If he spends half the amount of time sim racing as Max does, we have a potential champion in him. Low stakes environment that will allow him to improve.

-Colapinto is fast and he's proven that but he's inconsistent, and has a love for the barriers. He's like a fast Latifi, if he can get that under control he'll do well.

-Alonso; phenomenal season as well, I can see at least two championships in is future

 

[Lapsus of the bepsus]

anyone shitting on borto is a certified retard and their opinion is worthless. being green behind the ears and driving probably the worst car he was destined to be the backmarker this season and hes completely broken out of that zone and into the points on more than one occasion. hadjar is also pretty fantastic, i honestly think he might be even better than anto and definitely more consistent but the mercedes is just a faster car, no debate there

 

[Kyria the Great]

Something watching older drivers makes me lament we don't have any drivers currently willing to be the heel like Nelson Piquet and quite frankly I feel it needs it.

 

[Mantis Toboggan M.D.]

anyone shitting on borto is a certified retard and their opinion is worthless. being green behind the ears and driving probably the worst car he was destined to be the backmarker this season and hes completely broken out of that zone and into the points on more than one occasion. hadjar is also pretty fantastic, i honestly think he might be even better than anto and definitely more consistent but the mercedes is just a faster car, no debate there

I think so too, but Hadjar has two main issues that need to be addressed first - his temper which, to be fair, he is handling better and the fact that his future depends on Verstappen's choices atp. The deck looks stacked, all other major teams have their rookies set up (I count McL despite Piastri not being a rookie) except RBR for which the competition is fierce. Besides Max who will destroy all teammates they put next to him, there's also a potential Lawson resurgence, Arvid Lindblad, Yuki keeping his seat (honestly the best scenario for all involved) and all other rookies that Helmut might set his eyes upon. If I were him, I'd be trying to initiate talks with Audi or Cadillac, cause the fresh blood might have something new, just to keep my options open

 

[Coccxys]

Audi saying they want Verstappen.





Like, which team doesn't?

You'll need to build one hell of a car and restart the GT3/LMP1 program with a seat whenever he wants it to lure him. At this point I doubt money or the fact you've worked with him before and are mates with Jos are going to get a signature on a contract.

 

[SargonF00t]

I can't remember a year where the rookies have impressed me in such large numbers as this year.

Because of the extreme differences in their cars, I find it hard to say who has been best, but Hadjar, Antonelli, Bortoleto and Bearman have all impressed me this year.

I'm not sold on either Colapinto or Lawson at this point, and don't care if they continue or not in F1.

Even though he is not a rookie, I think it is time for Tsunoda to leave F1.

I think Hadjar will get the senior RedBull seat against Max next year and whilst this could be a disaster for him, if he can do better than Perez did, everyone at Redbull would be happy with that and if Max leaves after 2026, Hadjar could be in the odd position of being the most senior Redbull driver.

 

[Not A Bunny]

Audi saying they want Verstappen.

It's just so bizarre for teams to go around saying they want Verstappen like it's a reasonable prospect. If I wanted to make a believable claim, I'd be sniffing around George or Chuck. I might even say something like, "I'd give Oscar anything he wants."

Is this just a flex that they don't need to take responsibility on, knowing they wouldn't get him, but hey, hype us up because Max doesn't know what he's missing over here?

 

[Kyria the Great]

Honestly if I were a team looking to gain Max, I'd be selling him endurance racing and sports car seats because that's what he really wants because he looks like he'll stay in F1 for about 3 years at this rate.